The Osceola times., 1887-06-04

hedge and frightening visitors by an ex.
act imitation of child grievously af
flicted with the cough, which is the
terror Of all anxious parents. He also
took malicious delight in mounting into
the top OF tree by the roadside, and
when any one passed under the tree
calling out 'No Poper' with all the
powers of his voice. As large proper.
ton OF the travellers were sure To be
Roman Catholics, and as polemical diff,
ferences are carried to great extremes
in Ireland. it may be imagined that
such challenge, coming apparently
from the sky, caused no little sensa.
ton.
He soon learned the names of all the
household, and derived immense graf
ification in calling them and then see.
ing them hoaxed. The dogs were also
victims of his initiative powers, and
would run about in dire perplexity.
trying to discover the person who had
called them.
As an inmate of the house, no mon.
key could have been more mischieyous:
but there was always so ludicrous a
side to his mischief, that he was priyi-
legged to do much as he liked. Being a
magpie. he was necessarily an arrant
thief, carrying out the traditions of his
race by having treasure-house in
which he deposited his plunder. In
his case, the store-house was situated
on the top of hay-stack, and when
any small and portable article was
missing. it was usually to be found in
Jackytiboy's hiding-place.
He was an incorrigible robber of the
hen-roosts. carrying of the eggs in the
usual manner of magpies. that is. by
driving his closed beak through them,
and then flying off with his plumber.
He would even seize the hens by their
heads and drag them from their nests,
and whenever a great turmoil was
heard in the hen-houses, every one
within hearing ran to expel Jackytiboy,
and rescue the hens. For such exploit.
he was punished by being imprisoned
for time, but as soon as he was re-
leased he was sure to make his way
back again to the hen-houses. Indeed,
his untimely and lamented death was,
as we shall presently sec, indirectly
due to his passion for egg-stealing.
Even eggs, however, had not such
charms for him as bone which one of
the dogs was gnawing. As soon as he
saw either of the dogs busily gagged
upon a bone, Jackytiboy devoted all
his intellect to the task of robbing that
dog Of his bone. Watching his oppor.
tunity while the dogs attention wa.
given to the bone, he would quietly slip
behind the animal and administer a
sharp peck TO its tail. The aggrieved
dog would naturally yclp, drop the
bone and make dash at its assailant.
Then Jackytiboy would flutter away
for few PAGES, and when the dog
turned round to regain its property.
would give another peck at the same
place. Then the dog made another at.
tack. and when the animal had. BY q
series of assaults, been decoyed to a
distance. Jackytiboy flew to the bone,
seized it and made off with his booty.
The dogs. however, sometimes turn.
ed the tables on the magpic. When
ever Jackytiboy had been given, or a,
was most likely the case. had stolen,
more meat than he could consume
at the time, he was in the habit Of hid
ing it about the premises. Here the
dogs noses stood them in good stead
enabling them TO snuff out and devoul
the hidden stores. When he had sue
ceeded in robbing the dog of its bone
his next idea was to hide it in some Sc
cure place where he was sure that tn,
dog could not find it, So he generally
made his way into one of the bedroom.
and pushed the bone carefully under
the pillow.
As to the mischief which he did fol
pure mischief's sake, there were nt
bounds to its extent and variety.
For example, while the coachmar
was looking after his horses, Jackyti
boy filled the whip-tube with earth an,
little pebbles, so that when the ma,
tried to use his whip he found il iixe,
so firmly that it could not be taken ou
until the tube had been removed an'
emptied.
Watching the proceeding of car
penter who was engaged on the prem
ises afforded him the keenest gratitica
ton. When the man used the center
bit, Jackytiboy must needs help him b
picking out the little shavings from tn,
hole. Having thus proved his harm
less nature. he dropped some tacks int
the mans ear, AS he stopped over hi
work, and, as he started up. sna che,
off his spectacles, and flew away. witt